Method and apparatus for filling soft-baked goods



Sept. 9, 1969 I. L. LOPATA 3,465,693

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING SOFT-BAKED GOODS Filed Aug. 28, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 [ra LLopafa.

I N VEN TOR.

I. L. LOPATA Sept. 9, 1969 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING SOFT-BAKED GOODS Filed Aug. 28, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 p 9, 1969 L. LOPATA 3,465,693

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING SOFT-BAKED GOODS Filed Aug. 28, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 9, 1969 L. LOPATA 3,465,693

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING SOFT-BAKED GOODS Filed Aug. 28, 1967 7 Sheds-Sheet 4 l. L. LOPATA Sept. 9, 1969 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING SOFT-BAKED GOODS Filed Aug. 28, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 [raL.L0paza.

INVENTOR.

Sept. 9, 1969 1. LOPATA 5 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING SOFT-BAKED GOODS Filed Aug. 28. 1967 7 SheetsSheet 6 IraL.Lopafa.

I J VENTOR.

TDBY BaA-x-W W Sept. 9, 1969 1, LQPATA 3,465,693

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING SOFT-BAKED GOODS Filed Aug. 28, 1967 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 "Ma \w 11 m, N

nwavroe Ira L. 1 0,00 fa 3,465,693 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING SOFT-BAKED GOODS Ira L. Lopata, 35 Sutton Place, New York, N.Y. 10022 Filed Aug. 28, 1967, Ser. No. 667,318 Int. Cl. A23g 3/20 US. Cl. 107-1 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Filling soft-baked goods wherein a plurality of items are gently held between inflated diaphragms during the injection of a filling; the items are transported to a filling station, raised from a transport mechanism to receive a filler spout, and then returned to the transport mechanism.

The filling of soft-baked goods has in the past been mostly by tedious, slow, manual application of the goods to a filler spout. Delicate handling and positioning of the goods has been necessary, for without skill, the goods are broken, the filling misapplied so that the goods are ruptured or leak, and the filling may be misplaced. Where automatic filling has been devised, the same defects occur.

It has been found that a method and apparatus can be utilized which will delicately hold the soft-baked goods, and fill it precisely, and carry on such action at a high rate of speed simultaneously on a plurality of articles, with highly uniform results, with a minimum of breakage. While reference is had to soft-baked goods, the apparatus can also be utilized on unbaked goods, as well as other food articles, including relatively brittle and relatively firm products.

The objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages can be attained by the device shown by way of illustration in the drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the conveyor and lifting assembly with the housing removed;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the lifting assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a partial front elevational view of the filler with part of the wall exploded away;

FIGURE 5 is an end elevational view of the filler with part of the end wall exploded away;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the diaphrgam assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a partial bottom plan view of the flight bar;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the diaphragm assembly;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the diaphragm assembly;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the drive assembly for the apparatus.

TRANSPORTATION OF SOFT-BAKED GOODS The filling of soft-baked goods to be carried on simultaneously on a number of items, first requires a carrier to be transported to a filling station, transported to a loading station, then to a discharge station, and finally back to the loading station. An assemblage embodying such a carrier in a transportation system is shown in FIGURE 1. FIG- URE 2 depicts the transportation system.

In FIGURE 2, there is shown a pair of sprocket shafts .11, 12. Idler sprockets 13 are mounted on a sprocket shaft 11. Drive sprockets 14 are mounted on the shaft 12. Conveyor chains 15 are mounted on the sprockets 13, 14. The links of the chain 15 are connected by pins which are extended beyond the links to define drive studs 16. The

drive studs 16 support numerous flight bars 17, which States Patent 0 ice are generally flat, transverse platforms. Each flight bar is provided with a downturned portion 18 at each end (see FIGURES 6 and 7). The end portions 18 have pairs of arcuate notches 19 which are spaced to engage adjacent drive studs 16. In this manner, the drive studs 16 carry the flight bars 17 along the chain. Between the notches 19, there is a support roller 20 on the end portion 18, which rides on a partial track 10 (see FIGURE 1) on the inside of the conveyor housing 21, whereby the flight bars 17 are kept from falling off the studs 16 during their inversion as they return to the loading station. Each flight bar 17 contains numerous holders 22.

THE HOLDERS The transportation means is provided with seats or holders 22 for a plurality of soft-baked goods. The seats are formed of diaphragm frames 23 which have side edges 24 extending in an upward and outward direction. The top of the holder spans the edges 24 and is upwardly arcuate. The bottom edge 25 of the frame is horizontally straight. The side edges 24 and the bottom edge 25 are provided with an outwardly extending flange that defines a generally U-shaped seat 26. When a pair of frames 23 are arranged back to back, and are placed adjacent to another pair of frames 23, the seats 26 will complement each other to provide a place for a soft baked article. Of course, the seats 26 may be varied in shape to accommodate various sizes and shapes of soft baked articles. By way of illustration, a shape suitable for a doughnut has been drawn.

If it is desirable to seize the baked article, the frames are provided with an inflatable diaphragm 27 shaped to conform to the opening in the frame. This diaphragm 27 will have its edges gripped in a channel 28 in the edge of the frame. The diaphragm has an inflation stem 29 which is led down through a channel in the bottom of the frame 23. The channel communicates with an air chamber or passage in the flight bar 17. The frames 23 are attached to the flight bars 17 by recessed bolts 31. The introduction of air into the chamber 30 will distend the cheeks of the diaphragm 27 outwardly on both sides of the frame 23, to seize the soft-baked article on the seat 26 lying between adjacent frames and hold it gently during filling.

ELEVATING MECHANISM Reference has been made to a filling station; there the flight bars 17 are raised from the conveyor chain drive studs 16, to engage with a filler. It will be borne in mind that the flight bars 17 are carried to the filling station by the conveyor chain 15. The movement of the chain 15 is stopped when a flight bar 17 reaches the filling station. :Each of the flight bars 17 is provided with a locking-lug 40 (see FIGURE 6). The chain 15 stops with the locking-lug 40 in registration with a latch 41 which is mounted on a platen or table 42, (see FIGURE 3). This latch 41 is loaded by a spring 43. When the platen is down, the flight bars 17 pass over the platen, as the locking-lugs 40 pass under the latch 41. The latch is in raised position by reason of its resting on the housing 44. When the platen 42 is raised, the spring urges the latch 41 to engage the lockinglug 40. The flight bar 17 is then pressed firmly to the platen 42. A flexible air line 45 introduces compressed air into passages in the platen, conducting the air to air ports 45 in the top of the platen 42. As the platen 17 rises, the latches 41, urged by the springs 43, firmly press the ports 45 to similar air ports in the flight bar 17. The air so conducted, passes into the air chamber 30, through the diaphragm stem 29, and inflates the diaphragm 27, until the platen 42 is lowered and the flight bar 17 is released and returned to the conveyor chain 15.

The elevation of the platen 42 is accomplished in the following manner. The elevating mechanism housing 44 is attached across the conveyor housing 21. A pinion shaft 46 passes through a horizontal passage in the housing 44. It is supported on bearings 47 at each end. Pinion gears 48 are attached to each end of the shaft 46.

The housing 44 also has vertical passages at each end, in each of which a rack 49 is positioned in engagement with the pinion gears 48. The racks 49 are slidable on bearings 50. A counterbalance spring 51 normally maintains the racks 49 in lowered position. The platen 42 is secured to the tops of the racks 49. When the racks 49 are raised, they raise the platen 42. The counterbalance springs 51 keep the platen 42 in lowered position after the power drive to the racks 49 is relieved.

Accordion dust shields 53 are applied to cover the exposed parts of the rack shaft 54.

THE FILLER The conveyor housing is mounted on legs 61 and has a loading tray 62 at one end, where the soft-baked goods can be stacked and manually positioned in each seat 26. As the platen 42 lifts the flight bar 17, the diaphragms are inflated to seize the soft-baked goods. An air seal 63 is applied to each air port 45 to minimize air losses.

Hopper supports 64 are attached to the conveyor housing 21. An interchangeable hopper 65 is positioned on the supports 64. Other hoppers are readily substitutable so that fillings may be substituted at will and speedily. The bottom of the hopper 65 has a pump chamber 66 in which is located a pair of star impellers, one driven impeller 67, and the other a drive impeller 68. A template 69 provides a floor for the pump chamber 66. At appropriate spaced intervals, filler spouts 70 are attached to the template 68. The impellers 67, 68 are provided with radial slots to accommodate pump separators 71 which provide discrete, separate subchambers for each filler spout. When the flight bar 17 has risen to such a point that the filler spouts 70 penetrate the soft baked item, the impellers 67, 68 rotate to feed filling through the spout to deliver a predetermined amount of filling through each spout 70. The impellers 67, 68 then reverse briefly to withdraw filling from the spouts 70, to avoid dripping during the withdrawal of the filled baked goods and the presentation of the next unfilled baked articles.

When the flight bar 17 is disengaged from the platen 42, air pressure on the diaphragm 27 is relieved, the filled article is no longer seized, and is discharged by the inversion of the diaphragm assembly at the discharge station at the other end of the machine.

THE CYCLE When a flight bar 17 reaches a position at the filling station where it is over the platen 42, an index wheel on the sprocket shaft 11 engages an electroswitch 91 (see FIGURE The electroswitch 91 opens a circuit to a lower drive clutch-brake 92, which thereupon becomes disengaged and the conveyor is stopped. The same signal from the electroswitch 91 actuates an infinitely and positively adjustable metering driving mechanism (in accordance with the inventors US. Patent No. 3,002,599 of Oct. 3, 1961). This driving mechanism 93 operates a jog clutch 96 which couples the shaft 46 (see FIGURE 3) with a motor.

The shaft 46 rotates the pinion 48 to raise the platen 42 to lift the flight bar 17 until the soft-baked goods article is fully engaged by the nozzle 70. At the same time, the upper clutch-brake assembly 93 is connected through drive shaft 94 to operate the impellers 67, 68 pumping filling material from the pump chamber into the nozzle 70 which has entered the soft baked goods article. The jog clutch 96, having raised the flight bar to its highest position, is now slipping, holding the platen 42 at this position. When the metering mechanism setting is satisfied, the upper clutchbrake assembly 93 reverses the drive shaft 94, which causes the impellers 67, 68 to reverse and to withdraw filling material from the nozzles so that it will not drip out. As this reversal takes place, the drive mechanism 93 also reverses the drive to the job clutch 96, lowering the flight bar 17 on the platen 42, before any of the filled material can be sucked out, and restoring the flight bar 17 to the conveyor chain 15. An electroswitch (not shown) on the platen 42 is engaged by the plate 95 when the platen 42 reaches its lowest position. The electroswitch bypasses the electroswitch 91, and starts the conveyor again. The cycle repeats.

What is claimed:

1. A method for filling soft-baked articles comprising (a) loading a plurality of articles onto a plurality of seats on a bar, at a loading station,

(b) conveying the bar to a filling station,

(0) lifting the bar from the conveyor at the filling station until the articles are entered by filling nozzles,

(d) distending diaphragms of the seats to seize the article,

(e) pumping a filling through the nozzles into the articles,

(f) lowering the bar to disengage the filling nozzles, to restore the bar to the conveyor, and collapsing the distended diaphragms,

(g) moving the bar to a discharge station,

(h) dumping the articles from the seats.

2. An apparatus for filling soft-baked goods compris- (a) a seat assembly for a baked article at a filling station,

(b) a first means to move the seat assembly to bring the baked article into penetrating engagement with a means to fill the baked article and to remove the seat from the means to fill after the filling operation,

(c) a means to penetrate and fill the baked article,

(d) a means to seize the baked article on the seat assembly during the filling operation,

(e) a second means to move the seat for the baked article from a seat loading station to the filling station, and after the baked article is filled, to move the seat from the filling station to a discharge station comprising (A) a continuous loop conveyor,

(B) studs on the conveyor to receive a separate support for the seat,

(C) a support for the seat engageable and disengageable with the studs,

(D) a track under the conveyor positioned to engage the support for the seat during the inverted return of the support from the discharge station to the filling station.

3. An apparatus for filling soft-baked goods comprising (a) a seat assembly for a baked article at a filling station,

(b) a first means to move the seat assembly to bring the baked article into penetrating engagement with a means to fill the baked article and to remove the seat from the means to fill after the filling operation,

(c) a means to penetrate and fill the baked article,

(d) a means to seize the baked article on the seat assembly during the filling operation; the seat assembly comprising (A) a pair of generally U-shaped flanges positioned side by side,

(B) abutting diaphragm frames on each of the flanges,

(C) inflatable diaphragms positioned between each of the frames and distensible outwardly therefrom, toward the adjacent pair of frames,

(D) air ports in the flange connected to the inflatable diaphragms,

(E) means to inflate the diaphragms,

(F) the diaphragms, when inflated, defining the means to seize the baked article during the filling operation.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 comprising (a) a plurality of seat assemblies,

(b) the diaphragms distensible in opposite directions from the frames,

(c) each of the sides of the diaphragms with the side of an adjacent diaphragm defining a plurality of pairs of means to seize the baked article during the filling operation.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 comprising (a) the seat assemblies mounted side by side on a flight bar,

(b) air ports in the flight bar communicating with the air ports in the flanges and the means to inflate the diaphragms.

6. An apparatus for filling soft-baked goods compris- (a) a seat assembly for a baked article at a filling station,

(b) a first means to move the seat assembly to bring the baked article into penetrating engagement with a means to fill the baked article and to remove the seat from the means to fill after the filling operation,

(c) a means to penetrate and fill the baked article,

((1) a means to seize the baked article on the seat assembly during the filling operation; the first means comprising (A) a platen positioned at a filling station,

(B) a rack attached to the platen,

(C) a pinion operably engaged with the rack for raising and lowering the rack,

(D) a spring attached to the pinion for normally driving the pinion to lower the rack,

(E) a means to drive the platen to overcome the spring and raise the platen,

(F) an air line connected to air discharge ports in the platen,

(G) the air discharge ports in the platen engageable with the air ports in the seats positioned on the platen.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 comprising (a) a spring loaded latch on the platen normally engaged in holding relation with a seat on the platen,

(b) an abutment engageable with the latch to overcome the spring that loads the latch and to disengage the seat on the platen.

8. An apparatus for conveying and holding soft-baked goods to be filled comprising (a) a pair of generally U-shaped flanges positioned side by side.

(b) abutting diaphragm frames on to each of the (c) inflatable diaphragms positioned between each of the frames and distensible outwardly therefrom to- 5 ward the adjacent diaphragm,

(d) air ports in the flanges connected to the inflatable diaphragms,

(e) means to supply air under pressure to the diaphragms,

10 (f) the diaphragms, when inflated, defining means to seize between them the baked article during the filling operation.

9. An apparatus for filling soft-baked goods comprising (a) a seat for a soft-baked article,

(b) inflatable diaphragms positioned on opposite sides of the U-shaped seat and distensible toward each other,

(c) means to inflate the diaphragms to seize between them a soft-baked article disposed on the seat.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 comprising and U-shaped seat defining a seat assembly. 11. The apparatus according to claim 9 comprising (a) a flight bar,

(b) a plurality of seat assemblies mounted on the flight bar. References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,054 12/1953 Galvin. 2,811,933 11/1957 Prasz.

2,958,353 11/1960 Ogelvie.

3,143,232 8/1964 Hansel et a1. 3,322,073 5/1967 McKoWn.

FOREIGN PATENTS 40 123,230 2/1919 Great Britain.

949,862 2/1964 Great Britain. 1,035,611 7/1966 Great Britain.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner ROBERT 1. SMITH, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 10754 

